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Bordeaux is a gem of a destination for families. The city is very safe and offers quite a few attractions and museums where kids can spend hours and hours. It’s also a great base for all the day trips in the region, from Arcachon to Saint Emilion. The only thing you need to make it a perfect vacation is to find a family-friendly hotel in Bordeaux. 

Before you start your search, you need to understand what neighborhoods in Bordeaux are the best ones to stay in. For that purpose, I created a very detailed guide to the best districts of Bordeaux.

This article gathers my recommendations for the 8 most kids-friendly hotels in Bordeaux. These include chains like Novotel but also small boutique hotels which I find to be a bit more cozy with kids. Whether you’re traveling on a budget or looking for a more luxurious experience, you’re guaranteed to find something that fits you on this list. 

As I have been living in Bordeaux for quite a few years now I want to warn you that the summer here is hot! very hot! air conditioning is a must! So even if you decide to book a hotel that is not on this list, make sure it has AC. Needless to say everything on this list is equipped with AC.

Before we start, here are a few other articles I recommend you read if you’re traveling with kids to Bordeaux. 

30 best things to do in Bordeaux with kids
What to do with kids in Arcahcon 
Family-friendly wineries to visit in Bordeaux
Hiking with kids around Bordeaux (Gironde) 

Family-friendly hotels in Bordeaux 

FirstName Bordeaux

FirstName is a new hotel from the Hyatt group that has been attracting quite a lot of buzz since its opening. If you like modern and clean design, this is the perfect place for you! 

If you’re visiting Bordeaux with kids, I recommend taking the Tribe rooms. These include an extra large bed for the parents and a separate room with twin beds for the kids. If you travel with a baby, they can supply you with a cot. 

One of the best features of FirstName Bordeaux is its restaurant. As it’s open the whole day you can enjoy a big breakfast, a delicious lunch and finish with amazing cocktails in the evening. The restaurant is quite kids friendly so you don’t have to go far to have a nice dinner in the evening when the kids are tired.

FirstName - one of the most family friendly hotesl in Bordeaux
FirstName Hotel in Bordeaux

The hotel is located in Meriadeck, the administrative district of Bordeaux, positioned just a few minutes walk from one of the main squares, Place Pey Berland. Crossing the road from the hotel you enter Meriadeck, the main mall in the center of Bordeaux. 

It’s not a cheap experience but the modern fun design and the proximity to everything makes it worth it. The hotel has parking available, a bonus in Bordeaux as parking can get quite expensive in the city center. 

Book the hotel here.

Address: 14 Rue Claude Bonnier, 33000 Bordeaux

Maison Manège Bordeaux Centre

Maison Manège is a unique hospitality concept that blends the advantages of a guest house with the impeccable service and design of a boutique hotel. Each room is uniquely decorated giving it a general cozy feeling. 

The place offers a few common areas like a little terrace, a dining table, a big living room, and a kitchen where you can cook your meals. There’s also a possibility of breakfast at the hotel. Their Massai Mara suite is perfect to host a family, and they can also provide a baby cot if needed. 

Maison Manege is perfectly located in a residential area, just a few minutes walk from the most central parts of Bordeaux. You’re within walking distance from the main shopping street, the Opera house, and Place Gambetta, a perfect square for a picnic with the kids. 

Book a room here

Address: 27 Rue du Manège, 33000 Bordeaux

B&B La Maison Galiène

B&B La Maison Galiène is probably my favorite location on this list. Nested at the Jardin Public neighborhood, you’re in proximity to the best park in the center of Bordeaux, a perfect place for little ones. It’s also a few steps from rue Fondaudege, one of the rising streets of Bordeaux, especially for foodies

The B&B is very calm and brightly designed, all recently renovated and air-conditioned. There’s also a shared lounge area for you to relax in if you’re too tired to go out to the city.

Families love this place, so be sure to book fast. Their Duplex Quadruple Room is perfect for families. 

Book your stay here

Address: 4 Rue Emile Fourcand, 33000 Bordeaux

Aparthotel Adagio Bordeaux Centre Gambetta

Aparthotels are usually the best option when traveling with little kids. I mean, you know that dinner at a restaurant is not going to happen, so you might as well enjoy a proper kitchen. Adagio is one of the most popular aparthotels in Bordeaux and that’s why I added it to the list.

All their apartments include a little kitchen, a refrigerator, and a dining table. The room has AC, and there is an elevator, which is important if you have a stroller with you. 

Like many other hotels on this list, Adagio is located between the commercial center Meriadeck and Place Gambetta, just a few minutes walk from the city center. 

Book a room here.

Address: 40 Rue Edmond Michelet, 33000 Bordeaux

Residhome Bordeaux

Another really great aparthotel in Bordeaux is Residhome on Quai de Bacalan, near the Bassin a flot district. While it’s not very close to the city center, it’s one of the most popular districts of Bordeaux with plenty of stuff to do. 

Within a few minutes walk you’ll get to the famous wine museum, a kids’ sciences museum, and Halles de Bacalan, one of the most posh markets in town. Residhome is also located on tram line B, which will get you into the city center within 10-15 minutes. 

The aparthotel offers 97 fully-equipped apartments, ranging from studios to one-bedroom units. Each unit has a kitchen, a small living room, an office area, and more.  Their one-bedroom apartment fits a family of 4.  The design of the apartments is modern and pleasant.

Book your stay here

Address: 87 Quai Bacalan, Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux, France

Halles de Bacalan - a fun place for a lunch with kids
Halle de Bacalan – a fun place for lunch just next to Hotel Residhome

Bed and Breakfast Shandita

This little gem of a place is located in Merignac, one of the western suburbs of Bordeaux. The Shandita B&B is one of the most welcoming places on this list with big rooms and a magical garden.

The lovely owner of Shandita, Laurence, will pamper you with a delicious breakfast and homemade Crêpes. The B&B has an outdoor pool which is perfect for the hot summer days in Bordeaux.

For guests with children, Bed and Breakfast Shandita provides a babysitting service.

Whenever you need to get to the city center, you can take tram A. The closest station is located within a 10-minute walk in the Saint Augustin neighborhood, which is another hidden gem of Bordeaux. 

Book your stay here.

Address: 65 Cours d’Ornano, 33700 Mérignac, France

Maison Labruyère Bordeaux – Jardin Public

Maison Labruyère is located two steps from the main park of Bordeaux, Jardin public, which makes it a perfect location for families. It’s positioned in the Chartrons neighborhood, which is one of the more chic districts in Bordeaux with plenty of cafes and cute shops. 

The beautiful 18th-century building is home to several, chic and very bright apartments. Some have a direct view of the park and others of the city. Some of the apartments even have a cute terrace.

As a family, you can get the Deluxe Apartment, which has a double bed and a sofa bed in the living room. There’s also a little kitchen and a dining table, which is handy for kids. 

Book your stay here

Address: 52 Rue d’Aviau, 33000 Bordeaux

Jardin Public - one of the best parks in Bordeaux
Jardin Public- the central park of Bordeaux

Novotel Bordeaux Lac

A bit far from the city center but if you’re looking for an affordable option for a family visit to Bordeaux, this is one of the most popular family hotels in the city. It’s one of the only options on my list that has a pool, so if that’s a must for you, this hotel is recommended. 

If you don’t have a car you can reach the city within about 15 minutes by taking the C tram line.

If you’re visiting Bordeaux for at least a few days and are planning to travel a lot, this is a great location for you as you’ll be just a few minutes drive from the highway. The hotel is also located within a few minutes walk from Bordeaux Lac, the only beach in Bordeaux

Book your stay here.

Address: Av. Jean Gabriel Domergue, 33300 Bordeaux

If you’re planning to spend some time in Arcachon, check out my article about where to stay in Arcachon.

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via Lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂 

In the last year, with Covid restrictions, we started doing much more hiking than before, which I’m very happy with. However my kids are still small, so a not very well-planned trip usually turns into a whining journey and ends with me and my husband carrying them half the way. That is why in the last few months I did a lot of research to find kids-friendly walking paths in Gironde. In this article, I chose the hiking trails I enjoyed most when traveling with my kids. Most of them had also longer trails which you can enjoy with older kids that can walk longer distances. 

I have to warn you though that some parts of most of the trails are not very stroller friendly so if you are hiking with babies I strongly recommend bringing a carrier with you. In any case, for stroller-friendly hiking I recommend going to the parks of Bordeaux, you can discover the best ones in my article about the most beautiful parks of Bordeaux
Also, check out my article about the best hiking trails around Bordeaux for additional locations in our beautiful region.

If you’re interested in more ideas for things to do with kids in the region I invite you to follow me on Facebook/Instagram. Now let’s start! let’s dive into family-friendly hiking trails around Bordeaux!

Family-friendly hiking in Bordeaux Metropole

The city center itself is very friendly for kids but here I’m mostly going to talk about trails in nature so I didn’t include it.

Ecosite du Bourgailh in Pessac

family-friendly-hiking-in-Gironde

One of the most pleasant and kids friendly hiking trails in Bordeaux is located in Pessac. The Ecosite of Bourgailh is not just a park, it’s a universe of plants put together in a great landscape design. The area of the Foret du Bourgailh includes a 2.6 km walking trail, the largest tropical greenhouse in the region, sports facilities, a skate park, an amphitheater, a zoo, and a really fun wooden animal theme playground.

Parc Floral 

Parc Floral, located in the north part of Bordeaux is part of the Réserve écologique des Barails, a beautiful natural reserve spreading over 156 hectares. The reserve consists of different parts each with its own characteristic: the forest, the park, the meadows, the wetlands, and the ecological corridors. All of them are great for hiking but the one that kids love the most is Parc Floral.

The park starts with beautiful flowers and continues to the surprising twin cities gardens with sculptures and structures donated by some of Bordeaux’s twin cities like Ashdod (in Israel), Fukuoka (Japan), and Casablanca (Morocco). Kids usually use the twin gardens as a playground, climbing and running around the different statues. The most magical part of Parc Floral is the Torrent de Montagne, a mountain river with stones from the Pyrénées.

Parc floral in Bordeaux - one of the most kids friendly hiking trails in Bordeaux

Parc Floral is located in the Bordeaux Lac neighborhood and to get there straight without passing the forest first you will need to enter through entree roseraie (next to the Golf de Bordeaux Lac). Before heading there check out the information about the different entrances and parking spots on the official site of Bordeaux.

Hiking with kids in Arcachon 

Arcachon is heaven when it comes to hiking with kids. Everything is flat, the landscape changes a lot depending on the timing of your arrival and it has a rich flora and fauna to explore during your trip. There’s also always the option of going to the beach at the end to motivate kids to finish the trail. Here are some of the best family-friendly hiking trails in Arcachon.

The Domain of Certes-Graveyron

If you want to explore the nature of Bassin d’Arcachon at its best, Domain of Certes Graveyron in Audenge is the place to go. Located at the very heart of the Arcachon Bay, this natural reserve of 530 hectares is an amazing place for hiking with kids no matter what age they are. There are several trails you can take to discover the salt meadows and the migrating birds passing through Arcachon. The most kids-friendly one is Boucle de Graveyron, a 5.5 km circular hiking trail that goes through some of the animal farms in the region, the cute port of Audenge, the Audenge beach, and the blue colored salt marshes.

Domain of Certes Graveyron in Audenge, Arcachon

What I especially love about the Domaine de Certes is that it looks different every time you visit it. Due to its location at the heart of the Bay, the reserve completely changes its looks depending on the tide hours during the day of your visit so every visit there feels like you’re exploring a new location.
The reserve is free and can be visited whenever you want. Bicycles are not allowed on the walking paths of Domain de Certes et Graveyron. There are maps and good trail markings on site.

Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Prés Salés d’Arès

La Réserve des prés salés d’Arès is a huge natural reserve that offers several short and long hiking trails. The hiking starts at the port of Arès which is a nice place to stop for a plate of oysters before you hit the road 🙂 The most family-friendly trail is the 4.5km Boucle d’Arès, a path that goes along the salt meadows and then continues in a beautiful forest. The one downside is that this path ends on a road so you have to walk a bit along passing cars. However as the road is in the village itself, the few cars passing there are driving quite slow so it doesn’t really ruin the experience.

Hiking with kids in Ares, Arcachon

Les Prés Salés Ouest 

Prés Salés Ouest is another beautiful natural reserve, located on the other side of the Bassin d’Arcachon in La Teste de Buch. I love recommending this one to parents with small kids as it’s one of the only stroller-friendly hiking paths in the region. You can start the 2.2km trail from the port of Teste de Buch or from the Avenue du Général Leclerc (you will see a big parking from the road).

Prés Salés Ouest - a beautiful hiking trail in Arcachon

We started hiking when the tide was still quite low and finished it when it started to rise, the change in the landscape was spectacular. If you want to make it even more fun, stop at the port for some fresh oysters. The entrance is free and open for cycling as well.

Hiking with kids in other parts of Gironde 

Réserve Naturelle des Dunes et Marais D’Hourtin

Let’s now move to the Medoc region which offers a lot of great hiking trails. Hourtin is the biggest lake in Gironde surrounded by beautiful beaches and a lot of natural spaces. The Réserve Naturelle des Dunes et Marais D’hourtin is located at the northern point of the lake. It offers several trails which are all quite easy to do with kids, with the shortest one being the green path (Le Sentier de la Lobelie), a 2 km path along the lake. If it’s hot enough, finish your day at the beach nearby!  To start the hiking trail park your car at the Piqueyrot beach.

The trails of the Réserve Naturelle des Dunes et Marais D’hourtin

You can see more details about all the trails in that reserve here

Lac Bleu and Lac Vert

I love hiking around lakes! I think that water in combination with the greenery around it gives it a very meditational vibe 🙂 Luckily there are a few beautiful lakes in Gironde where you can have a lovely walk and admire the colors of the water. The first one is Lac Vert (the green lake) in Canejan and the second one is Lac Bleu (the blue lake) in Leognan, both located about 15/20 minutes’ drive from Bordeaux. Their names derive from the color of the water and they are both stunning. They are both great to visit with kids, although the green one is easier to do with strollers.  If you have a dog, they would love Lac Blue!

Lac Vert near Bordeaux

Forêt de Migelane

Forêt de Migelane is a 280 hectares forest situated on parts of the Saucats, Martillac, and la Brède towns in Southern Gironde. The calm forest has several hiking trails to offer, from the most kids-friendly one we have la Petite Boucle circular (1.4 km), La Petite Boucle circular trail to la Balade Forestière (2.7 km), la Balade Géologique (5.2 km) and la Grande Balade (6.5 km). See more info here.

If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
The best beaches around Bordeaux
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches and villages 
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
What to do and eat in Saint Emilion

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

This is the list of all the best Easter events and treasure hunts taking place in the Bordeaux region on Paques (easter weekend). If you want to plan your next few weekends here, don’t forget to check out my article about the best things to do in Bordeaux in April.

The best chocolate places in Bordeaux

For those of you who want to buy some fancy chocolate, I just published an article about the best chocolate shops in Bordeaux. And Finally, in this article I gathered only part of the events taking place this weekend in the region, if you want to be updated about all the other Eastern-related events, subscribe to my newsletter and get them all to your inbox on Friday. 

Let’s start 🙂 

Fun Easter events in Bordeaux Metropole 

Roll’easter

A special easter event is taking place in Darwin on April 9, an egg hunt on skates! You can either bring your own skates or rent them there. See all the details here

Musée national des Douanes

The national museum of the history of French customs is hosting its annual easter activity for kids on April 9. The treasure hunt is for kids aged 5-7 yo, in which they would have to find chocolate eggs in the museum. For more details and registration click here

Kfé Des Familles

One of the traditional treasure hunts in Bordeaux, organized by Kfe des Familles, will take place on April 8. The kids will be divided into several groups according to their age and will try to find the treasures around la Place Buscaillet in the Bacalan neighborhood. The places are limited so come early to register. For more details click here.

Easter events around Bordeaux (Gironde and Beyond)

Château de Villandraut

The Chateau de Villandraut will host two treasure hunts on Monday (April 10). The are two events, one for the little ones (3-6 yo) starting at 10:00 and the other one for the big kids (7-12 yo) starting at 14:30. Both require prior reservations, for details click here.

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion

Want to enjoy excellent wine while your kids are looking for their chocolate treasures? Try this event in Château Larrivet Haut-Brion. The beautiful chateau in the Pessac and Leognan appellation is hosting a fun Eastern event on April 8. See all the details here

treasure hunt for kids at Château Larrivet Haut-Brion

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is one of the places on my list of family-friendly wineries in the Bordeaux region.

Écomusée de Marquèze

The Écomusée de Marquèze, in Landes de Gascogne, is hosting a fun easter weekend on April 9-10. The program includes a big treasure hunt for the whole family and concerts of Gascony music. For more details click here.

Écomusée de Marquèze
Egg hunt at Écomusée de Marquèze

Chateau de Duras

The beautiful Chateau de Duras in Lot et Garonne is hosting its annual egg hunt throughout the weekend. You can enjoy the treasure hunt as well as guided tours of the chateau on April 8-10. See more details here

 Pâques au Château de Montaigne

Château de Montaigne in the Saint Emilion region is hosting a big easter event on the long weekend of April 8-10. The program includes a big egg hunt and games in the chateau’s gardens. See all the details here

Easter Egg Hunt at Châteaux La Croizille & Tour Baladoz

Another place to celebrate Easter this year is Château la Croizille. This great winery will host you for wine tasting while your kids are hunting for their chocolate treasure (which in this case is a fancy one from Chocolaterie Maëlig). This activity required prior reservation, see more details here

If you want to discover other wineries in Saint Emilion, check the list of my recommended wineries to visit in Saint Emilion

Chasse aux oeufs – Château d’Agassac

Another château that is hosting a full day for the kids this Easter is Château d’Agassac in Medoc. The program includes a chocolate treasure hunt, games for the kids, mini golf, and a lot of wine for the adults. See all the details here

If you’re wondering what else you can do in Medoc, here’s my guide to the Medoc region

For a more general list of family-friendly activities in Bordeaux go to my article about the best things to do in Bordeaux with kids

Is it your first time in Bordeaux?

If it is you should definitely check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux to get familiar with all the must-see places in the city. To help you choose a hotel I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you find your preferred AirBnB location.

If you need more tips for things to do in the SW of France I invite you to join my Facebook group ” Travel in the South West of France“. Also, every Friday I send a newsletter with plenty of additional events you can enjoy during the weekend, so hurry up and subscribe to my email list now 🙂

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

Entertaining kids during a two weeks vacation can be a very demanding task. Although Spring vacation in the Bordeaux area started just a few days ago, some parents already feel exhausted by the daily search for interesting things to do with their kids. So if  you feel you have covered all the activities in the city and you don’t know what else to do with your kids in the next two weeks, here are six ideas for things to do in Bordeaux on vacances de Pâques 2018.

Planétarium in Cap Sciences

For the next two weeks (April 7-22) Cap Sciences invites your kids to discover and learn about the biggest mysteries of the universe. The planetarium will make a real time simulation of the night’s sky and will populate it with more than 3000 stars, planets and galaxies. The visit to the planetarium is limited to kids older than 8. For ages 3 to 5, they will offer storytelling sessions . It is recommended to reserve tickets online as the sessions for the planetarium are limited to groups of only 19 people.

stars
Photo by Kyle Gregory Devaras on Unsplash

When: April 7-22 (14h15, 15h, 15h45)
Where: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux

Guided visit at the Musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design

The museum of decorative art and design hosts an exhibition of book cover designs. This week (April 11-13), the museum proposes a guided visit of the L’image-livre exposition for kids of 6-11 years old. The tour will be followed by a graphic workshop where kids will design a book cover, using the techniques they had just discovered on the tour. Three workshops will take place at the museum:  Wednesday – April 11 – 14h30; Thursday – April 12 – 14h30; Friday – April 13 – 14h30.

For more info.

kids workshop
photo by: musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design de Bordeaux

Address: 39 rue Bouffard, 33000 Bordeaux

Learn Block Climbing

Block’Out Bordeaux, the block climbing center, organized climbing courses during the school vacation. The climbing discovery courses will take place April 9-13, between 10:30 and 12:00. The price of a daily course is 15€.

For more information see the site of blockout.

Address: 3 Rue Georges Barres, 33300 Bordeaux

 

Spectacle for kids

Take your kids to a day show at one of the spectacles of Théâtre La Boîte à Jouer. The program includes different genres such as: comedy, drama, dance and even a puppet show. The shows of the theater are hosted in different places in Bordeaux, among them: Halle des Chartrons, le marché de lerme and vivres de l’art.

See the full program for the school vacation.

Gardening at the Maison du jardinier

La Maison du jardinier in  Parc Rivière  proposes free workshops of gardening for kids during the vacation. The next workshop, “l’atelier du petit jardinier écolo” will take place on April 18 ( 16:00) and will be open to kids of 6 to 14 years old.  It is advised to call them to reserve a spot (05 56 43 28 90).

huge cucumber
a cucumber that went out of control

Address: Maison du jardinier et de la nature en ville, Parc Rivière, rue Mandron, Bordeaux

Discover nature within the city

Let your kids discover one of the two French reserves in a peri-urban area, le Réserve Nationale de Bruges, which is located less than a 30 minutes drive from the center of Bordeaux. With more than 3500 species of plants and animals, the national reserve of Bruges offers a large space for playing and observing the natural life of the region. The reserve is spread over a large green area of 265  hectares. You and your family can go on a 2.5 km round trip, with observation posts on the lake.  le Réserve Nationale de Bruges is free and open Saturday to Wednesday from 10 am to 6 pm.

See  more details.

la réserve naturelle nationale de Bruges
la réserve naturelle nationale de Bruges

Address: Lieu dit “Le Baron”, Avenue des 4 ponts , 33520 Bruges  Tel: 05 56 57 09 89

 

Do you have other ideas for things to do with kids during the vacation? Please share them in the comments below so that other parents could enjoy as well 🙂